Lacey Marie Buenfil

Mother of Three Disappears in Florida Forest

Buenfil and an acquaintance, Terry Kenneth McDowell, were driving in the Big Scrub area of the Ocala National Forest on December 27, 2011. At 3:00 p.m., the vehicle became stuck in the sand on Railroad Grade Road just south of Forest Road 14. Buenfil walked south to get help, and has never been heard from again.

Bloodhounds tracked Buenfil’s scent to U.S. 19, then lost the trail. She’s described as a drifter who would stay at various different locations for weeks at a time. Authorities believe she may have caught a ride from someone. She left behind three daughters, who are in the custody of their father. She kept in regular contact with her children and it’s uncharacteristic of her to abandon them.

Investigators believe Buenfil’s disappearance is suspicious and McDowell, who like Buenfil had a drug history, is a person of interest in her case. A photo of him is posted with this case summary. McDowell died in a fire in April 2013, without disclosing anything more about Buenfil’s disappearance.